Minister Heredia calls BWS land deal “shady”

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

Hon. Manuel Heredia, San Pedro Area Representative and Minster of Tourism

On March 5thThe San Pedro Sun broke the story on our website at www.sanpedrosun.com that the Government of Belize (GOB) had sold Belize Sewer Authority’s (BWSL) land located on Laguna Drive in San Pedro Town for 1% of its estimated value. The story was later printed in Vol. 22 #10 dated March 8, 2012 where it was reported that there had been no official comment from the Area Representative of Belize Rural South Hon. Manuel Heredia regarding the land sale. The prime land, with parcel number 01193 and valued at $250,000, was sold to 19 year old Alyssa Tun of a Juventus Street address in Orange Walk Town who paid $2,530 for the property. Last week however, Heredia told The SP Sun that the land deal is “wrong” and “shady“. “I personally feel that it shouldn’t have been done in the first place. It is wrong,” said Heredia adding that “it is my understanding that they are working out something and I am sure that at the end of the day they will cancel the title and give it back to BWSL and make a commitment with the person that bought it.” Heredia said that if the GOB wanted to get rid of the land, the most appropriate thing would have been to give it to the community. When asked if he (Heredia) had spoken to the Minister of Natural Resources (Hon. Gaspar Vega), Heredia said he had been unable to do so and hoped to bring up the matter when they meet during another Cabinet meeting.

Proposed BWS Office land sold for 1% its estimated value

When asked why he gave a recommendation for the land in question Heredia said that: “People would normally ask me for a recommendation sometimes. I feel like it is a little shady as to what went on over there with that land because there is a recommendation letter regarding this person that I don’t even know.” The recommendation letter which Tun obtained is apparently for a house lot which turned out to be BWSL’s property. The land in question is the proposed site for the new BWSL office that was scheduled to start this year.

The SP Sun contacted BWSL for comment but one of their representatives explained that they are unable to make comments regarding the issue for the time being.